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2023 submissions
Click on the individual art pieces to see the full image and read about what these pieces mean to the artists.
To see the 2023 winners, click here
Ariel Michalak, Moulting
The work is inspired by the process of periodic moulting of some animals. The main motif is transformation. It takes up the theme of finding happiness in one’s own identity and reconciling with the obstacles that accompany it.
Insects have been a huge inspiration to me for as long as I can remember. It’s how diverse they are, how many luscious, vibrant colours can be found in their carapaces. Some of them hide a whole range of colours of the rainbow in their tiny bodies. One of the most fascinating aspects of their existence is the transformation process they undergo. The long period of isolation in a colourless cocoon is a prelude to the beauty they exude after hatching. Each of us is such an insect. We go through constant transformations throughout our lives in search of [insert what you want most here].
This piece is very personal to me. It relates to the process of my transition, as well as the difficulties of living and coping with many mental health disorders.
Insects have been a huge inspiration to me for as long as I can remember. It’s how diverse they are, how many luscious, vibrant colours can be found in their carapaces. Some of them hide a whole range of colours of the rainbow in their tiny bodies. One of the most fascinating aspects of their existence is the transformation process they undergo. The long period of isolation in a colourless cocoon is a prelude to the beauty they exude after hatching. Each of us is such an insect. We go through constant transformations throughout our lives in search of [insert what you want most here].
This piece is very personal to me. It relates to the process of my transition, as well as the difficulties of living and coping with many mental health disorders.
Wandersofia, MINDMAP, part 5
When things got really tough, I started painting with watercolors to try express how I felt inside but also to change my mood into better.
My watercolor paintings are a way to express my chaotic mind. So many things happens inside my head that often it is overwhelming to cope with the thoughts.
Shades of blues and deep purples are representing my emotions. Every brushstroke on the paper carries the weight of my mental turmoil.
The composition of organic and fluid shapes represent what I want to be: have more flexibility and adaptability to face the challenges.
That's why the painting is simply named "mindmap", as it acts like an abstract guide to navigate thru my emotions and feelings.
My watercolor paintings are a way to express my chaotic mind. So many things happens inside my head that often it is overwhelming to cope with the thoughts.
Shades of blues and deep purples are representing my emotions. Every brushstroke on the paper carries the weight of my mental turmoil.
The composition of organic and fluid shapes represent what I want to be: have more flexibility and adaptability to face the challenges.
That's why the painting is simply named "mindmap", as it acts like an abstract guide to navigate thru my emotions and feelings.
Virpi Asllani & Minna Huusari, It is Time to Let Go
It is time to let go
of You, of us, of the bond.
My illness and the web it has surrounded me with.
The habits that are driving my illness.
Lilly floats towards the infinity.
It hurts, but the memories will remain, valuable memories, the understanding. Acceptance.
The purpouse I have discovered, the duty will remain.
On aika luopua.
Sinusta, meistä, yhteisestä.
Sairaudestani, sen tuomasta tukiverkostosta ympärilläni.
Tavoista, jotka minut sairastuttivat.
Lilja lipuu kohti ääretöntä.
Koskee, mutta minulle jää muistot, arvokkaat kokemukset, ymmärrys. Hyväksyntä.
of You, of us, of the bond.
My illness and the web it has surrounded me with.
The habits that are driving my illness.
Lilly floats towards the infinity.
It hurts, but the memories will remain, valuable memories, the understanding. Acceptance.
The purpouse I have discovered, the duty will remain.
On aika luopua.
Sinusta, meistä, yhteisestä.
Sairaudestani, sen tuomasta tukiverkostosta ympärilläni.
Tavoista, jotka minut sairastuttivat.
Lilja lipuu kohti ääretöntä.
Koskee, mutta minulle jää muistot, arvokkaat kokemukset, ymmärrys. Hyväksyntä.
Tóth Katalin, The Doe and Her Child in a Forest Surrounded by Fire
The doe and her fawn are in great danger. The child does not move, so it wants to survive the danger with this method. His mother is still waiting by his side and is hesitating whether to go or stay? If she saves herself, she saves her kind, she can still have another child. What to do? What would you do?To stay without a movement or run away, if you see the danger?
Winston Gomez, For those without a voice
Mixed media on canvas , 50 inch x 50 inch.
Tamara Dalanics, Stigma
For a long time I had been very afraid that people would judge me if they learnt about my illness. This self-portrait was the first piece with which I chose to admit my illness in front of everybody. And this way with this picture I am fighting against stigmatisation.
Tamás Dubniczky, Preparing to Stand on Her Hands
I collect minerals and I discovered that you can take a macro photo of the inside of a rock crystal, as I turn the stone different interesting shapes are always being drawn and I am sending one in now as I upload this picture of a girl bending over
Suvi Miettinen, Island of sorrow
The sketch is made five years ago. I experienced deep emotions when making it. I had to paint the sketch digitally via Photoshop because the paper of the original art piece is fragile by my tears. I wanted to add blue color to my artwork because my grief has felt as big as an ocean. At first, I did not understand that sorrow is a fountain of healing.
My journey is not a black and white trip at all. My journey is made of straight and blurred lines, shadows, lights and rich colors. The color blue, the grieve, was and is the way to see the colors in life.
Through art I can say to my inner child:
You came to the island of sorrow but there is light that adult me can borrow. There is no reason to hide. Together we are one. I am on your side.
The girl, my inner child, asks:
How can I be swallowed by so many waves?
Stay under by the pressure of pain?
If I go under water by the hands of others,
how can I trust the ones walking on the water?
Is there a way to rise back to the surface?
To be free of the numbness of freezing ice?
If I look up and dream of warmth and summer,
can I swim and reach calm waters?
The adult me holds her hand and says:
Let your burden drop.
Borrow your sorrow.
I can feel your pain.
You can cry the whole ocean. It is OK.
My journey is not a black and white trip at all. My journey is made of straight and blurred lines, shadows, lights and rich colors. The color blue, the grieve, was and is the way to see the colors in life.
Through art I can say to my inner child:
You came to the island of sorrow but there is light that adult me can borrow. There is no reason to hide. Together we are one. I am on your side.
The girl, my inner child, asks:
How can I be swallowed by so many waves?
Stay under by the pressure of pain?
If I go under water by the hands of others,
how can I trust the ones walking on the water?
Is there a way to rise back to the surface?
To be free of the numbness of freezing ice?
If I look up and dream of warmth and summer,
can I swim and reach calm waters?
The adult me holds her hand and says:
Let your burden drop.
Borrow your sorrow.
I can feel your pain.
You can cry the whole ocean. It is OK.
Sini, Frozen Spikes
Depression, anxiety, addiction...
When the mind got hurt so many times. When it cannot let go of that hurt anymore.
The hurt becomes one with the mind and every time something hits you like a wave, it will leave it's mark. Over time those marks, those hurtfull spikes of your mind will grow and multibly and they will be frozen inside you forever. Until at least you will face the hurt and let the sun shine in.
Life hits us with many kind of things that change our innerself. Others may not know or see what kind of burden we carry. Only you know what you've been through. Only you can decide, that what ever it is that has led you to this point that you suffer mental health problems, you can recover. It might take time, but you need to make the first move towards healing. No one can help you, if you deny the truth and just try to carry on.
It can be very hard for most people to admit that there is something broken inside and it requiers help from others to heal. It might be therapy, medication, or something else. Might be that the only way to get through days, is that you keep on going and doing too much cause you're too afraid to stop. Yes, it's hard. But ask yourself; Do you enjoy life? Are you feeling okay? Is there maybe years of hurt buried inside of you that slowly eats you alive. Too much spikes, that hurt and maybe if you would just take time to take care of yourself and get help, your life could come much better in time. No more just getting through the day and feeling exhausted all the time.
We are all humans, we all get hurt. Some of us struggle through their whole lifes just surviving and maybe wondering is life really worth living. I'll tell you from my own experience; Yes it is! Whatever you are going through in your life, you can get through it and you can heal. Those frozen spikes of your mind and your heart can melt when you turn to other people for help. We are not ment to survive here alone. We need each other and we need to let go and let the sun shine in.
When the mind got hurt so many times. When it cannot let go of that hurt anymore.
The hurt becomes one with the mind and every time something hits you like a wave, it will leave it's mark. Over time those marks, those hurtfull spikes of your mind will grow and multibly and they will be frozen inside you forever. Until at least you will face the hurt and let the sun shine in.
Life hits us with many kind of things that change our innerself. Others may not know or see what kind of burden we carry. Only you know what you've been through. Only you can decide, that what ever it is that has led you to this point that you suffer mental health problems, you can recover. It might take time, but you need to make the first move towards healing. No one can help you, if you deny the truth and just try to carry on.
It can be very hard for most people to admit that there is something broken inside and it requiers help from others to heal. It might be therapy, medication, or something else. Might be that the only way to get through days, is that you keep on going and doing too much cause you're too afraid to stop. Yes, it's hard. But ask yourself; Do you enjoy life? Are you feeling okay? Is there maybe years of hurt buried inside of you that slowly eats you alive. Too much spikes, that hurt and maybe if you would just take time to take care of yourself and get help, your life could come much better in time. No more just getting through the day and feeling exhausted all the time.
We are all humans, we all get hurt. Some of us struggle through their whole lifes just surviving and maybe wondering is life really worth living. I'll tell you from my own experience; Yes it is! Whatever you are going through in your life, you can get through it and you can heal. Those frozen spikes of your mind and your heart can melt when you turn to other people for help. We are not ment to survive here alone. We need each other and we need to let go and let the sun shine in.
Sarus Erika, Windows
The contrast between the lace-like structure and the worn house wall reflects the contradictions of everyday life. The windows of the shabby house may open onto a hopeful better world. Instead of the pink world, a dull, suppressed mauve dominates the picture.
My daughter's favorite picture Acrylic, stretched canva
My daughter's favorite picture Acrylic, stretched canva
Salli Siekkeli, WTF is going on?
Wtf is going on? is about mental distress and listening too much others voices in your head and losing your own identity.
Sami Nyberg, My Victorious Battle Mask
The name the artwork is Warrior. It was made with digigraphics by combining photos. RPG characters are an old hobby of mine, and I've been painting figures since the 1980s. I use it as a material for my works, and it bring me joy in life.
Saija Hytti, New beginnings
When i begin to paint this painting I was in the crossroads in my life and i wanted to get all the emotions out of my chest. When i was painting this i just let the emotions flow through my paintbrush on to the canvas. This painting means a lot to me, while i was painting this painting i had a clarity on which way i should be going
Réka Putnóczki, Angels watching over
While i was creating this piece i was in active psychosis and it felt like i am channeling through other dimensions, and felt like the drawing was already on the textile i just had to drew the lines it was an euphoric feeling for sure.
Ally Zlatar, I Was Blind to My Illness
When living with an eating disorder my central problem was not so much the external physical ramifications of the illness, but rather the internalized psychological and emotional struggles that I have experienced. My insider artist-researcher approach is pertinent within this work since there is much need to give voice to those inflicted with eating disorders and to counterbalance the detached ‘clinical’ perceptions of the illness. The reality of living with the ‘inner torment’ deriving from these diseases is unbearable. It is incredibly difficult to express how having an eating disorder can impact the self-identity and self-image of someone who is ill. My art emerges from this personal experience of these eating disorders and how I represent my body within my artworks.
Ludowika, Request - Hoping for an Answer
This picture was taken during a trip to the famous monasteries from Moldova, Romania, a place where people are going to find answer for their questions.
Peter Johansson, Mirror photo
It's a sort of mirror photo and I took it some years ago! I like the water in the photo.
Outi Niva, Tirer
Water-soluble oil paint
I wanted to describe a feeling that is more than familiar to me. When fatigue/tiredness is so bottomless and hopeless. The character of the work curls up in herself and shuts the outside world out. Disbelief that life could be better and also the idea comes that the end of life could be a relief. The belief of feeling useless and somehow defective strengthens the desire to give up. However, I wanted to give a hint of hope to the picture, even if the character doesn't see it or believe it in that very moment.
I wanted to describe a feeling that is more than familiar to me. When fatigue/tiredness is so bottomless and hopeless. The character of the work curls up in herself and shuts the outside world out. Disbelief that life could be better and also the idea comes that the end of life could be a relief. The belief of feeling useless and somehow defective strengthens the desire to give up. However, I wanted to give a hint of hope to the picture, even if the character doesn't see it or believe it in that very moment.
Olga Preda, Coming Within Myself
‘Coming within myself’ is a piece I’ve created during what felt like an inescapable depressive and dissociative episode. It is meant to represent my body guarding itself, while my feelings were deep into the ground. It’s also meant to express the union between the human body and nature, the cohesion that keeps us alive and protected.
Nikodeemus Toukola, The Greatest Fish Story Ever
I tried to describe and capture 200 year of history in one image, like in the way the Logos was intended, of how war is seen in media. Media, tell-tales, imagery, spoken words, games, movies etc. They all tell a different story.
One version of founding The Red Cross before media we have these days, was that it gave a war a humane face. Someone to look after you, someone to heal. No reason to have a war, if no one is not injured or killed. Vietnam was first war to have film footage of the battle in the form that is used today, Persian gulf war first war to have real-time media on-site battles. Now social media and we have ongoing global crisis in different locations. History is written by the winners, so it is important to have more people that remember.
Social media, narrow it down with the medication that is given today with the treatments globally, see who gives a shit after a crisis start when you are numb as a sheep, follows, likes, coins, loot boxes, Playstations, tactics, all things recorded, in the final showdown no one escapes. You only fight against yourself. Eye movement, rapid eye dreams will serve just one thing. Void.
Let’s hope it does not come to that.
One version of founding The Red Cross before media we have these days, was that it gave a war a humane face. Someone to look after you, someone to heal. No reason to have a war, if no one is not injured or killed. Vietnam was first war to have film footage of the battle in the form that is used today, Persian gulf war first war to have real-time media on-site battles. Now social media and we have ongoing global crisis in different locations. History is written by the winners, so it is important to have more people that remember.
Social media, narrow it down with the medication that is given today with the treatments globally, see who gives a shit after a crisis start when you are numb as a sheep, follows, likes, coins, loot boxes, Playstations, tactics, all things recorded, in the final showdown no one escapes. You only fight against yourself. Eye movement, rapid eye dreams will serve just one thing. Void.
Let’s hope it does not come to that.
Lora-Elly Vannieuwenhuysen,
Masking
For many of us, neurodiversity and trauma are closely intertwined. A significant factor in this connection is the constant 'Othering' we endure in our daily lives. We tend to be social chameleons: forced to hide our true selves behind a socially acceptable mask in order to pass as neurotypical so we can participate in society. Little by little, our authentic selves fade behind our masks while we blend in, and we forget what forbidden colour we used to be.
Madeleina Kay, Trepidation
'Trepidation' is an A3, acrylic on perspex painting which I created in 2020. It was made during the pandemic when society as a collective were experiencing high-levels of anxiety due to the uncertainty caused by Covid-19. The painting was a reflection on the acknowledgment of mental suffering where more people were speaking openly about their feelings - the choice of a male figure was deliberate to challenge the traditional societal expectations on men to supress their emotions and not show any weakness. The background is inspired by the night's sky, to represent the restless sleep/insomnia which is often caused by worrying, but also to symbolise the opportunity for development which can arise from allowing yourself to embrace fear and be open to the process of dreaming.
Sarah Naughter, Frame of Mind
Mats Konradsson, Stockholm
This is my hometown. I live here together with my younger sister, Åsa. She is important to me
Sadepisaroita, Arvet
Arvet (in English scars) tells about mental health disorders with the whole formed by small paintings. The artwork exudes dark color, because my mental health disorders have always formed a big black blob that is difficult to see and walk through.
The two paintings above belong to this blackness. The landscape picture on the left shows how black contact lenses in front of the eyes, when suffering from mental health disorders remove all color from life. The bogy on the right is like depression, which appears when they want it, usually just when you least expect it.
The human-like figure on the right side represents my fear of looking in the mirror. My fear came from how I looked every time when I looked at my face from the mirror when I was having a hard time. I only saw an empty shell of the person I once was. Eyes were no longer shone with light and my features were black and barren.
Below the figure is a small black painting with an uneven, jagged and hard surface. That painting shows the shell that became me in the most difficult moments. No joy, love or enthusiasm could get through that shell. That crust surrounded my skin and prolonged my illness.
On the bottom right is a description of my worst resistance to healing, myself. There is a person with its hands over ears around words that hurt. Although I have faced bullying, those words hurt the most because they came from me. I was my worst competitor in healing, and probably the reason why healing is still in progress.
The picture on the bottom left reflects the Finnish saying "light at the end of the tunnel". It reflects the wish and willingness to heal, but also how difficult it is to walk towards the light.
The watercolor work on the left of the lighthouse tells about my healers, my family, loved ones and art. With their help I have survived. With their help, I've been able to get through the hardest days and sometimes they've kept the lighthouse up.
Above the lighthouse is a painting where a person is walking through a door from which light is pouring in.This painting shows how healing must come from the person itself. Even if there is a great support network that helps and supports, still the most important strength comes from the person themselves, because only you can put one foot in front of the other and move forward.
Lastly, in the middle of all the paintings is a cracked painting with blood dripping from it. There are two bloody handprints on top of the painting, which remind me of the past, of the small and fragile child that I am no longer. With these disorders, I have changed a lot. I am no longer that child, but an adult with many lessons behind these disorders. Without my illnesses, I wouldn't be the person I am now, and I'm grateful for that.
The two paintings above belong to this blackness. The landscape picture on the left shows how black contact lenses in front of the eyes, when suffering from mental health disorders remove all color from life. The bogy on the right is like depression, which appears when they want it, usually just when you least expect it.
The human-like figure on the right side represents my fear of looking in the mirror. My fear came from how I looked every time when I looked at my face from the mirror when I was having a hard time. I only saw an empty shell of the person I once was. Eyes were no longer shone with light and my features were black and barren.
Below the figure is a small black painting with an uneven, jagged and hard surface. That painting shows the shell that became me in the most difficult moments. No joy, love or enthusiasm could get through that shell. That crust surrounded my skin and prolonged my illness.
On the bottom right is a description of my worst resistance to healing, myself. There is a person with its hands over ears around words that hurt. Although I have faced bullying, those words hurt the most because they came from me. I was my worst competitor in healing, and probably the reason why healing is still in progress.
The picture on the bottom left reflects the Finnish saying "light at the end of the tunnel". It reflects the wish and willingness to heal, but also how difficult it is to walk towards the light.
The watercolor work on the left of the lighthouse tells about my healers, my family, loved ones and art. With their help I have survived. With their help, I've been able to get through the hardest days and sometimes they've kept the lighthouse up.
Above the lighthouse is a painting where a person is walking through a door from which light is pouring in.This painting shows how healing must come from the person itself. Even if there is a great support network that helps and supports, still the most important strength comes from the person themselves, because only you can put one foot in front of the other and move forward.
Lastly, in the middle of all the paintings is a cracked painting with blood dripping from it. There are two bloody handprints on top of the painting, which remind me of the past, of the small and fragile child that I am no longer. With these disorders, I have changed a lot. I am no longer that child, but an adult with many lessons behind these disorders. Without my illnesses, I wouldn't be the person I am now, and I'm grateful for that.
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